Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQD): What They Are, How to Track and Earn Them
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What is a Medallion Qualification Dollar (MQD)
The only metric Delta uses to determine elite Delta Medallion status is Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs). MQDs track your total qualifying spending throughout the year on select American Express co-branded credit cards, Delta flights, select airline partners, and travel packages.
MQDs for Medallion Status
To achieve or retain Delta Medallion Status, members must meet specific MQD requirements alongside other metrics like Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) or Medallion Qualification Segments (MQSs):
- Silver Medallion: $5,000 MQDs
- Gold Medallion: $10,000 MQDs
- Platinum Medallion: $15,000 MQDs
- Diamond Medallion: $28,000 MQDs
How MQDs Are Calculated
Earn Delta MQDs Flying Delta-Operated and Partner Airlines
MQDs are earned based on the base fare and additional fees set by the carrier for the respective flights (taxes and government fees are omitted). To earn MQDs on partner airlines, the condition is to book tickets sold on the Delta marketplace (for example, the flight number starts with “DL”).
Earn Delta MQDs on Purchases With Credit Card
Co-branded credit cards also allow cardholders to earn MQDs.
- MQD Headstart: These are the credit cards that award you MQD “Headstart” 2,500 MQD each year.
MQDs will be deposited for current Cardholders six to eight weeks after February 1st of each year.
The MQD Headstart will also be given to new cardholders or those upgrading from an ineligible Delta SkyMiles American Express Card. MQDs will be deposited six to eight weeks after the account is opened. These deposits will then take place yearly during the same period.
- MQD Boost: additional MQD Boost after a certain spending threshold
- Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Platinum Business Amex Cards, you earn 1 MQD for every $20 in purchases.
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve and Reserve Business Amex Cards: earn 1 MQD for every $10 in purchases.
Earn Delta MQDs With Delta Vacation
Terms and Conditions
Earn one (1) MQD per US$1 of the Total Package Price for every completed Delta Vacations package when booked through Delta Vacations online, via our vacation experts, or through an authorized third-party travel agency. “Total Package Price” means the total value of the package in USD spent on Eligible Flights, base hotel rental rate, base car rental rate, but excluding taxes, fees, insurance, room service, other booking charges, amounts paid directly to the hotel, car or activity provider, or any element of the booking which is paid or reduced by vouchers or discount codes. “Eligible Flights” means Delta-marketed flights in Main Cabin or above (flight numbers that include the “DL” airline code), flights marketed Core Global Airline Partners that have a Delta ticket number (ticket number beginning with “006”) and SkyTeam-marketed flights operated by a SkyTeam member airline that have a Delta ticket number (ticket number beginning with “006”), in each case which booked through Delta Vacations online, via our vacation experts, or through an authorized third-party travel agency. Eligible Flights expressly excludes flights marketed by airlines that are not Delta Core Global Airline partners or SkyTeam members. Qualifying car rental bookings include rentals at a participating location for one or more days at rates other than travel industry rates or discounts, wholesale of tour package rates or discounts, wholesale tour package rates, insurance/dealer replacement rates, corporate and government rates, group travel discounts, or rentals in conjunction with a frequent flyer car award, or other corporate agreements applicable to the respective car company.Choice Benefits: Delta MQD Accelerator
Choosing a benefit The Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) Earning Accelerator allows members to earn Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs) at an accelerated pace.
Terms and Conditions
Medallion Qualification Dollars will not be viewable in My Profile and fulfilled until the next Medallion Year: for 2024 Medallion Choice Benefit selections made in calendar year 2023, MQDs will be deposited into the account in January 2024 for qualification toward the 2025 Medallion Year; for 2025 Medallion Choice Benefit selections made in calendar year 2024, MQDs will be deposited into the account in January 2025 for qualification toward the 2026 Medallion Year. For 2024 Medallion Choice Benefit selections made after 12/31/2023, MQDs will be deposited into the account within 24 hours of selection for qualification toward the 2025 Medallion Year. For 2025 Medallion Choice Benefit selections made after 12/31/2024, MQDs will be deposited into the account within 24 hours of selection for qualification toward the 2026 Medallion Year. MQDs are non-transferable and cannot be gifted.This Choice Benefit may be selected more than once per Medallion Year.
Tracking MQDs
Members can monitor their MQD progress through their Delta SkyMiles profile on delta.com or the Fly Delta app. It updates after eligible spending is credited.
Members can track their MQD progress in their Delta SkyMiles profile on delta.com or in the Fly Delta app. It is updated after the relevant expenses are credited.
Conclusion
In this article, we’ve explored what MQDs are and their key role in determining Medallion status, as well as the number of MQDs required to achieve each elite status level. We also reviewed all the ways to earn Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs).
What does MQD get you?
MQDs track the number of qualifying spendings during a qualifying year and are used to earn or maintain Medallion elite status for the following year. MQDs cannot be redeemed for award flights or other SkyMiles uses and have no cash value.
Is it better to get MQD or miles?
If you have already achieved the desired elite status, it is better to choose award miles. Because excess MQDs are not transferred to the next calendar year. MQDs don't give you anything except for the elite status level.
Do MQDs expire?
MQD indicators are reset at the beginning of each calendar year. The elite status obtained on their basis is valid from the moment of its achievement and is valid for the entire next calendar year.
Do Seat Upgrades Count as MQD?
Yes, if the SkyMiles number is mentioned in the purchase transaction, service class upgrades—both before and after the ticket purchase—are charged to MQDs.
